Valve having seat-carrying flange



Jan. 5, 1965 J. 1.. WILLIAMS 3,164,353

VALVE HAVING SEAT-CARRYING FLANGE Filed Jan. 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

John L. Williams Buck/70m, Cheofham 8 B/ore AT TORNEYS 1965 J. L.WILLIAMS 3,164,363

VALVE HAVING SEAT-CARRYING FLANGE Filed Jan. 24, 1963 2' Sheets-Sheet 2li lla Fig. 7

JOHN L. WILLIAMS m vavro/a Br I Fig 6 4 a/mom, 51.01%, KLAROU/ST aSPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,164,363 VALVE HAVINGSEAT-CARRYING FLANGE John L. Williams, R0. 162, Oswego, Greg. Filed Jan.24, 1963, Ser. No. 254,045 4 Claims. (Cl. 251328) This invention relatesto blade type gate valves and particularly to blade type gate valveshaving replaceable elastomer seats. This application includes thesubject matter of my prior copending application entitled Valve HavingSeat-Carrying Flange, Serial No. 90,830, filed February 21, 1961, nowabandoned, and is a continuationin-part thereof.

There is an increasing demand for and it is a main object of the presentinvention to provide a low cost blade type gate valve having a removableelastomer seat.

A more specific object is to provide in a blade type gate valve in whichthe blade moves along a predetermined path, a removable flow passagemember secured in a special manner in the body of the valve and havingan elastomer seat which is specially formed so that it is not damagedbecause of the contact therewith of the fixed path blade.

A further object is to provide a wafer valve of the above type having acast body.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the outlet end of a valve of thepresent invention, parts being broken away to better show certainfeatures of the valve;

FIG. 2 is a vertical midsection taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of theportion of FIG. 2 indicated by thearrow leading from FIG. 2A to FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a modified form of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the designated portion of FIG. 4; v

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view of another form of theinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Introductory Matter Referring to the drawings, the valve shown has aflat wafer type body 11 formed with a flow passage extendingtherethr-ough with an axis at P. In FIG. 2, the inlet is to the rightand the outlet to the left. The body isalso formed with a gate bladechannel 13 or guideway intersecting the flow passage. A gate blade 15 ismovably received by the channel 13 and passes through an invertedpacking gland 17 covered by my Patent Re. 24,735.

The blade is raised and lowered by means of a threaded stem 19adjustably connected at 26 to the blade 15 and threadedly extendingthrough a nut 21. 'The nut carries a handwheel 23 and is rotatablymounted on the upper end of a two legged frame 25 shown in my PatentDes. 179,791. The frame is bolted at 27 to the body 11.

An adjustable stop 29 is preferably provided on the upper end of thestem 19 to limit downward movement thereof. Turning the wheel 23 one wayraises the blade 15 and turning it the other way lowers the blade.

Specific Consideration The valve body 11 may be considered as comprisinga cast flat wafer type main body portion 31 and a flow passage member33. The main body portion is formed with a bore 35 (FIG, 2A) providedwith threads which threadedly receive the flow passage member 33.

The flow passage member 33 includes a tubular portion 37 formed on itsinner end with an annular axially facing channel receiving an annularelastomer seat 39. The seat has a rib 41 projecting beyond the flowpassage members and being of rounded cross section for good sealingengagement with the blade 15.

The orientation of the seat 39 is determined by the tubular portion 37,but the location of the seat relative to the blade and main body portionis determined by a radial flange 4-3 formed as an integral extension ofthe tubular portion 37. This flange engages a face 45 formed on the mainbody portion to limit inward threading movement of the flow passagemember. The various,

portions of the flow passage member are so dimensioned that when theflange 33 engages the face 45, the seat rib 41 projects into the path ofmovement of the blade 15 to form a good seal with the rib.

The blade 15 has a semicircular lower end (FIG. 1) which has a smallbevel 46 (FIG. 2A) on the outlet end so that the blade does not cut theseat 39. The bevel is exaggerated in the drawings so that it will bevisible.

The blade 15 has a width equal or slightly greater than the outerdiameter of the seat 39. Thus when the' blade is closed, rib 41 engagesmargins of the blade at the lower end of the blade.

The channel 13 has a width slightly greater than the width of the bladeand extends downwardly slightly below the tubular portion 37 of the flowpassage member as best shown in FIG. 2A. The inlet portion of the flowpassage is formed by a frusto-conical surface 71 defining a radiallyinwardly tapeiing face on the main body portion. The frusto-oonicalsurface 71 merges into a short cylindrical portion 73 having the samediameter as the inside of the flow passage member 33.

The frusto-conical surface provides clearance for the blade channel,assuring that stock fibers will not be trapped and accumulated in thelower end of the channel. When the blade is open, the fluid flowingthrough the valve may readily Wash any fibers away.

A pair of wedges 75, one of which is shown in FIGS.

1 and 2, is provided on the main body portion in posi- '83 and thickenedflange portions 8d. The main body portion is also formed with aplurality of lugs formed with threaded holes 86 to receive bolts, bolts87 for the flange 81 being shown securing the pipe flange to the body.The main body portion is also formed with a eavy boss or rib 88 aroundthe upper portion thereof on which is mounted the frame 25 and the boltsfor the box 17. The body is also formed with a rib 89 fitting into theinverted box 17.

The main body portionis further formed with an annular face or seat 91(FIG. 2A) obliquely related to the flow passage (shown at a 45 degreeangle). 93 fits around the tubular portion 37 of the flow passage membernext to the flange 43 and is pressed by the flange against the face orseat 91 to form a fluid seal between the main body portions 31 and theflow passagemember 33.

One or more gaskets may be used between the flange 43 and the face 45 toregulate the amount of projection of the rib 41 into the path ofmovement of the blade 17.

An O-ring a groove.

When the rib wears, removal of one or more gaskets would cause the ribto project farther toward the blade for proper contact.

An advantage of the valve is that either a circular or an oval opening(vertically elongate) may be cast in the flow passage member 33 to varythe capacity of the valve. The outside of the member would be circularin either case.

In a typical six-inch valve of the present invention, the rib 41 wouldbe compressed approximately 1 of an inch prior to engagement of theblade with the wedges 75, and approximately of an inch after suchengagement.

A plurality of notches ml or lugs, preferably four, is provided on theedge of the flange 43 to facilitate engagement by a tool when insertingor removing the flow passage member. 7

I FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show a modified form of the invention in which thevalve body 11a comprises a main body portion 31a and a flow passagemember 33a. The flow passage member has a tubular flow passage portionhaving a light press fit in a plain bore 35a which is formed in the bodyportion 31a.

The body portion 31a is formed with a recess MP2 to accommodate theflange portion 43a of the member 330. The depth of the recess 102 issuch that the face-to-face dimension a (FIG. 4) of the valve is the sameas a similar valve not so recessed and having two plain faces.

It follows from the above that l have provided a method of converting anexisting plain face wafer valve to a wafer valve having a separableflange face without altering the face-to-face dimension of the valve.Thus a valve which is converted in accordance with my teachings can bereplaced in the same installation from which it was removed, withoutrequiring alterations in the installation to accommodate the convertedvalve.

The flow member 33a is held in place by three screws or bolts Hi3 whichare equally distributed about the periphery of the member 33a. Theperipheral margin of the flange portion 43a is provided with threedished recesses lllS to accommodate the heads of the screws 1%.

after, the threaded holes for the screws 1% are provided in the lugs85ain register with the recesses H35. Then the screws are threaded intoplace, and because of the recesses I05, the'heads of the screws will bedisposed inwardly of the outer face of the flange 43a. Thus, the headsof the screws do not interfere with the proper faceto-face contactbetween the flow member 33:: and the flange of an-adjacent pipe (notshown).

While an O-ring seal is not shown in FIGS. 3-5 for the member 33a, oneis contemplated, if required. However, thepress fit of the flow passagemember within the main body portion 31a is' sufiicient in a number ofinstallations to prevent leakage.

The tubular flow passage portion of the flow passage member 33aisprovided on its inner end with an annular A circular elastomer sealingmember 3% has a body portion secured in the groove on member 33a and hasa blade engaging portion 41a projecting into the path or plane ofmovement of the blade 15a to be engaged by saidblade and be compressedby such engagement so as to form a seal with said blade.

The blade engaging portion 41a is of lesser width than the body portionof the sealing member 3% and. is disposedintermedi'ate the inner andouter edges of said body portion Thus the blade engaging portion 41a issurrounded .by a matrix of elastomer material so that said bladeengaging portion can readily be deformed laterally without danger ofrupturing it.

His further pointed out that the blade engaging portion 41a is roundedor of convex semicircular form in cross section for camrning contactwith the blade 15a. The blade has a slight bevel 45a for camming contactwith the blade engaging portion 41a of said sealing member. Thus thereis mutual camrning contact between the blade 15a and the blade engagingportion 410 so that repeated engagement between said blade and sealingmember will cause only a minimum wear on the latter despite thepredetermined plane of movement of said blade.

The groove in the tubular flow passage portion is of dovetail form andthe body portion of the sealing memher is of regular trapezoidal form incross section to fit in the groove and be retained in place.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another modified form of the inventlon which isbasically like the FIGS. 35 form, except that the flange portion 43b ofthe flow member 33!) is formed with countersunk holes to receive andaccommodate the screws l ifab. The holes are drilled after the flowpassage member is pressed into place.

The advantage of the FEGS. 3-5 form over the FIGS. 6 and 7 form is thatthere is less likelihood of leakage across the face of the flangeportion 43a than across the flange portion 4315 because the recesses 10Soccupy less radial distance of the flange 43a than do the countersunkholes for the flange portion 43b.

'While I have shown the concepts of my invention embodied in a wafertype gate blade valve, the concepts could be embodied in other gateblade valves, such as for instance a digester type gate blade valve.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be the preferredembodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that theinvention is not to be limited other than by the provisions of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising a body having a flow passage intersecting a gateblade channel,

a gate blade movable in said channel between an opened and a closedposition and projecting from said body,

a packing assembly around said blade at the place it projects from saidbody and establishing a predetermined plane of movement for said blade,

said body including a main body portion and a removable flow passagemember,

said flow passage member including a tubular flow passage portion,

said main body portion having a bore in which said tubular flow passageremovably fits,

said tubular flow passage portion defining part of said flow passage,

said flow passage member including an annular flange portion bearingagainst said main body portion outwardly of said tubular flow passageportion,

threaded means for securing said flow passage member to said main bodyportion,

said tubular flow passage portion terminating short of the plane ofmovement of said blade,

said tubular flow passage portion having an annular groove formed on itsinner end,

a circular elastomer sealing member having a body portron fitting insaid groove and having a blade engagmg portion projecting into the planeof movement of said blade to engage said blade and be compressed therebyto form a seal with said blade,

said blade engaging portion being of lesser width than the body portionof said sealing member and being disposed intermediate the inner andouter edges of suchbody portion so that said blade engaging portron issurrounded by a matrix of elastomer material so that said blade engagingportion can readily be deformed laterally without danger of rupturingit,

said portion being rounded for cumming contact with said blade and saidblade having a slight bevel on the edge thereof next to said sealingmember for mutual camming contact with said rounded portion so thatrepeated engagements between said blade and sealing member will causeonly a minimum of wear on the latter despite the predetermined plane ofmovement of said blade.

2. A valve comprising a body having a flow passage intersecting a gateblade channel,

a gate blade movable in said channel between an opened and a closedposition and projecting from said body,

a packing assembly around said blade at the place it projects from saidbody and establishing a predetermined plane of movement for said blade,

said body including a main body portion and a removable flow passagemember,

said flow passage member including a tubular flow passage portion,

said main body portion having a bore in which said tubular flow passageremovably fits,

said tubular flow passage portion defining part of said flow passage,

said flow passage member including an annular flange portion bearingagainst said main body portion outwardly of said tubular flow passageportion,

threaded means for securing said flow passage member to said main bodyportion,

said tubular flow passage portion terminating short of the plane ofmovement of said blade,

said tubular flow passage portion having an annular groove formed on itsinner end,

a circular elastomer sealing member havinga body portion fitting in saidgroove and having a blade engaging portion projecting into the plane ofmovement of said blade to engage said blade and be compressed thereby toform a seal with said blade,

said blade engaging portion being of lesser width than the body portionof said sealing member and being disposed intermediate the inner andouter edges of such body portion so that said blade engaging portion issurrounded by a matrix of elastomer material so that said blade engagingportion can readily be deformed laterally without danger of rupturingit,

said portion being rounded for camming contact-with said blade and saidblade having a slight bevel on the edge thereof next to said sealingmember for mutual camming contact with said rounded portion so thatrepeated engagements between said blade and sealing member will causeonly a minimum of wear on the latter despite the predetermined plane ofmovement of said blade,

said tubular flow passage portion and said flange portion defining acorner, 7

an O-ring seal fitting around said tubular flow passage portion at saidcorner, a

said main body portion having an outward facing surface adjacent but inspaced relation to said corner and between which and said corner saidO-ring is compressed in sealing engagement with said flow passage memberand said main body portion.

3. A valve comprising a body having a flow passage intersecting a gateblade channel,

a gate blade movable in said channel between an opened and a closedposition and projecting from said body,

a packing assembly around said blade at the place it projects from saidbody and establishing a predetermined plane of movement for said blade,

said body including a main body portion and a removable fiow passagemember,

said flow passage member including a tubular flow passage portion,

said main body portion having a bore in which said tubular flow passagehas a light press fit to form 'a seal with the walls of said bore,

said tubular flow passage portion defining part of said flow passage,

said flow passage member including an annular flange portion bearingagainst said main body portion outwardly of said tubular flow passageportion,

threaded means for securing said flow passage member to said main bodyportion,

said tubular flow passage portion terminating short of the plane ofmovement of said blade,

said tubular flow passage portion having an annular groove formed on itsinner end,

a circular elastomer sealing member having a body portion fitting insaid groove and having a blade engaging portion projecting into theplane of movement of said blade to engage said blade and be compressedthereby to form a seal with said blade,

said blade engaging portion being of lesser width than the body portionof said sealing member and being disposed intermediate the inner andouter edges of such body portion so that said blade engaging portion issurrounded by a matrix of elastomer material so that said blade engagingportion can readily be deformed laterally without danger of rupturingit,

said portion being rounded for camming contact with said blade and saidblade having a slight bevel on the edge thereof next to said sealingmember for mutual camming contact with said rounded portion so thatrepeated engagements between said blade and sealing member will causeonly a minimum of wear on the latter despite the predetermined plane ofmovement of said blade,

said threaded means comprising a plurality of threaded elements,

said main body portion having threaded holes receiving said threadedelements,

said elements having heads engaging said flange portion,

said flange portion being recessed to accommodate said heads so that theouter surfaces of said heads are disposed inwardly of the outer face ofsaid flange portion.

4. A valve comprising a body having a flow passage intersecting a gateblade channel,

a gate blade movable in said channel between an opened and a closedposition and projecting from said body,

a packing assembly around said blade at the place it projects from saidbody and establishing a predetermined plane of movement for said blade,

said body including a main body portion and a removable flow passagemember,

said flow passage member including a tubular flow passage portion,

said main body portion having a bore in which said tubular flow passagehas a light press fit to form a seal with the walls of said bore,

said tubular flow passage portion defining part of said flow passage,

said flow passage member including an annular flange portion bearingagainst said main body portion outwardly of said tubular flow passageportion,

threaded means for securing said flow passage member to said main bodyportion,

said tubular flow passage portion terminating short of the plane ofmovement of said blade,

said tubular flow passage portion having an annular groove formed on itsinner end,

a circular elastomer sealing. member having a body portion fitting insaid groove and having a blade engaging portion projecting into theplane of movement of said blade'to engage said blade and be compressedthereby to form a seal with said blade,

said blade engaging portion being of lesser width than the body portionof said sealing member and being disposed intermediate the inner andouter edges of such body portion so that. said blade engaging portion issurrounded by a matrix of elastomer material so that said blade engagingportion can readily be deformed laterally withoutdanger of rupturing it,

said portion being rounded for camming contact With said blade and saidblade having a slight bevel on the edge thereof next to said sealingmember for mutualcamming contact Withsaid rounded portion so thatrepeated engagements between said blade and sealing member will causeonly a minimum of Wear on the latter despite the predetermined plane ofmovement of said blade,

said threaded means comprising a plurality of threaded elements, a

said main body portion having threaded holes receiving said threadedelements,

said elements having heads engaging said flange portion,

said flange portion being recessed to accommodate said heads so that theouter surfaces of said heads are disposed inwardly of the outer face ofsaid flange portion,

the shank portions of said threaded elements being disposed outwardly ofthe peripheral edge of said flange portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,787,438 Bauer Apr. 2, 1957 2,832,564 Williams Apr. 29, 1 58 2,843,920Swartz et al July 22, 1958 2,869,221 Siepmann Ian. 26, 1955

1. A VALVE COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A FLOW PASSAGE INTERSECTING A GATEBLADE CHANNEL, A GATE BLADE MOVABLE IN SAID CHANNEL BETWEEN AN OPENEDAND A CLOSED POSITION AND PROJECTING FROM SAID BODY, A PACKING ASSEMBLYAROUND SAID BLADE AT THE PLACE IT PROJECTS FROM SAID BODY ANDESTABLISHING A PREDETERMINED PLANE OF MOVEMENT FOR SAID BLADE, SAID BODYINCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION AND A REMOVABLE FLOW PASSAGE MEMBER, SAIDFLOW PASSAGE MEMBER INCLUDING A TUBULAR FLOW PASSAGE PORTION, SAID MAINBODY PORTION HAVING A BORE IN WHICH SAID TUBULAR FLOW PASSAGE REMOVABLYFITS, SAID TUBULAR FLOW PASSAGE PORTION DEFINING PART OF SAID FLOWPASSAGES, SAID FLOW PASSAGE MEMBER INCLUDING AN ANNULAR FLANGE PORTIONBEARING AGAINST SAID MAIN BODY PORTION OUTWARDLY OF SAID TUBULAR FLOWPASSAGE PORTION, THREADED MEANS FOR SECURING SAID FLOW PASSAGE MEMBER TOSAID MAIN BODY PORTION, SAID TUBULAR FLOW PASSAGE PORTION TERMINATINGSHORT OF THE PLANE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BLADE, SAID TUBULAR FLOW PASSAGEPORTION HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE FORMED ON ITS INNER END, A CIRCULARELASTOMER SEALING MEMBER HAVING A BODY PORTION FITTING IN SAID GROOVEAND HAVING A BLADE ENGAGING PORTION PROJECTING INTO THE PLANE OFMOVEMENT OF SAID BLADE TO ENGAGE SAID BLADE AND BE COMPRESSED THEREBY TOFORM A SEAL WITH SAID BLADE, SAID BLADE ENGAGING PORTION BEING OF LESSERWIDTH THAN THE BODY PORTION OF SAID SEALING MEMBER AND BEING DISPOSEDINTERMEDIATE THE INNER AND OUTER EDGES OF SUCH BODY PORTION SO THAT SAIDBLADE ENGAGING PORTION IS SURROUNDED BY A MATRIX OF ELASTOMER MATERIALSO THAT SAID BLADE ENGAGING PORTION CAN READILY BE DEFORMED LATERALLYWITHOUT DANGER OF RUPTURING IT, SAID PORTION BEING ROUNDED FOR CAMMINGCONTACT WITH SAID BLADE AND SAID BLADE HAVING A SLIGHT BEVEL ON THE EDGETHEREOF NEXT TO SAID SEALING MEMBER FOR MUTUAL CAMMING CONTACT WITH SAIDROUNDED PORTION SO THAT REPEATED ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN SAID BLADE ANDSEALING MEMBER WILL CAUSE ONLY A MINIMUM OF WEAR ON THE LATTER DESPITETHE PREDETERMINED PLANE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BLADE.